Mechanics' Hall

05/31/2026

Join us Tuesday at 6 p.m. for line dance lessons for all y'all! Absolute beginners and the line dance curious welcome.

$7 member; $10 general admission. No one turned away at the door for lack of funds.

Robyn Nicole leads with fresh of set of dances to learn. Judgement-free, zero pressure, maximum silliness.

05/30/2026

Congratulations to our writer-in-residence Mira Ptacin who won the Book Award for Anthology in the 2026 Maine Literary Awards for her role as editor of "All Along You Were Blooming" (Pink Eraser Press ) a collection of writing by incarcerated women in Maine.

The Maine Literary Awards are presented by the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance

Check out "All Along You Were Blooming" and other Maine Literary Awards titles in the Mechanics' Hall Library.

05/29/2026

Tuesday, June 9 at 7 PM

Maine author Sarah Braunstein launches 'Baby in Box,' a collection of darkly humorous short stories exploring caretaking, family dynamics, and the unexpected encounters that shape lives. Sarah will be conversation with writer Nick Fuller-Googins .

FREE, registration requested

Co-presented with Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and Longfellow Books

05/28/2026

Join us June 24 for a tender, soul-stirring, and luminous concert by Suzie Assam in the intimate Mechanics’ Hall library!

Suzie blends folk intimacy with modern soul, carried by a warm, expressive voice and deeply personal storytelling. Her songs balance emotional honesty with soulful warmth. This performance features unreleased “letters home” — songs written for and about family, love, grief, and joy.

Joined by Sam Smith (percussion) and Nick Santos (bass) .

Tickets via link in bio or mainemechanics.org

05/28/2026

Oh YAAAAS!!
We are back at it next Tuesday, June 2 at 6 p.m. for more zero judgment, maximum good time line-dancing for all. With come-as-you-are energy and an awesome playlist Robyn will teach us a few new dances that you didn't know you needed to know. Bonus: you might just meet a few new friends.

$7 member, $10 general admission. No one turned away for lack of funds at the door. Make reservations via link in bio or mainemechanics.org

05/27/2026

Why do we keep returning to the places where land meets water? Join Ryan Brod at Portland’s Eastern Promenade for a free writing workshop exploring place, perspective, and the creativity found at the edges.

No writing experience required — just curiosity and a willingness to show up.

A Maine native, fly-fishing guide, and author of "Tributaries: Essays from Woods and Waters," Ryan teaches writing at the University of New England and brings a deep connection to Maine’s landscapes and stories.

Please register for this free program at link in bio or mainemechanics.org

Our NEA Big Reads is a program of the in partnership with

05/26/2026

Join Our Team!

Mechanics’ Hall is seeking a creative, collaborative, and enthusiastic team member to join us in the new role of full-time DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE.

We're looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented Development Associate to support the day-to-day functioning of our fundraising program at a pivotal moment in the organization’s growth.

Link in bio or mechanicshallmaine.org/jobs/

05/20/2026

The buzz about Thanya Iyer is real.

described Iyer's jazz-inflected pop as "a lucid daydream that's constantly melting at the edges" while the hailed her sound as "a haven for wellness." Meanwhile Stereogum says “Iyer’s voice serves as the ultimate guiding light” and proclaims "there doesn’t seem to be anyone making music quite like Iyer in modern indie music."

Join us Friday night! Doors at 7 PM; music at 7:30 PM. Portland's multi-instrumentalist and brilliant beatmaker opens the show with a short set.

Our Circulation Desk concerts are intimate by design — close enough to hear the stories behind the songs, quiet enough to actually listen. And for this show, your ticket includes all-you-can-sip tea, seltzer, vino, and beer from

Pay-what-you- can at the door. No one turned away for lack of funds.

📷 by Sophia Grouev

05/15/2026

Thank you Portland Press Herald for featuring Caitlin Shatterly and her new novel "The Gulf of Lions." We'll be hosting Caitlin along with her friend NPR's Weekend Edition's Scott Simon and Richard Russo on May 20th in collaboration with Print: A Bookstore. Get tix at mechanicshallmaine.org



https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/13/writer-lives-moment-to-moment-in-a-sequel-to-maine-novel/

Caitlin Shetterly probes parental love, illness and forgiveness in ‘The Gulf of Lions.’

05/14/2026

📢Big news, and a PSA from Samantha Jones.

We are SO grateful to Maine Preservation, in partnership with The 1772 Foundation, for awarding us a grant to rebuild our historic bulkhead — originally used to load coal for the furnace, now a much-needed utility entrance. And thank you to the City of Portland for investing in this project with a CLG grant supported by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission

A building from 1859 requires a lot care. And honey, we'd hate for this to happen to you.

Thank you Maine Preservation City of Portland, Maine and Maine Historic Preservation Commission for helping us keep history — and our guests — on solid ground. 🏛️